Yellowstone Vacation

Last September Ed and I decided go visit Yellowstone National Park.  I had never been there and it had been years since Ed had visited.  We had bought a new 26 ft. camper with a REAL bed.  I was so comfortable that we didn't think twice about towing it behind our pickup.  It took about two days to get up to the park.  We went up through Duchesne, Utah because my mother had been born in Tabiona and I hadn't been up that way before.  It was kind of neat trying to imagine if the house she had been born in was still there.  I don't know, but it was injoyable for me.  

We stayed outside of the park the first night and visited as far as we could that day. Next day we found a place to stay called Fishing Bridge campground. Real nice spot. It had full hookups including electricity.  I need that because I need oxygen at night and we couldn't use our generator after 8pm.  

I had problems finding cellphone service.  We would drive along and I would get one or two bars then before Ed could stop the truck there would be none.  I was great joy when I could get good service and stay in contact with me kids.  

There were so many buffalo (bison).  Almost every time we stopped we saw them.  We also saw a couple of wolves, a coyote, a bear (think it was a grizzly),  and a few elk.  No deer and no moose, which I really wanted to see.  

It was such a variety of landscapes.  Some mountainous with tall peaks and deep canyons.  Many waterfalls and streams.  A huge lake and then also much rolling hills, prairie like with few trees.  The air was so nice when we first arrived within the park but later it became so smoky because of all the wildfires around the area.  We were able to see the majesty of the Grand Tetons on our way up but coming out of the park although we were near the Tetons we couldn't make them out through the smoky air.  We were surprised that we had passed them without even knowing it.  We went to several museums throughout the trip.  They were wonderful.  Lots of artifacts made of rock, leather and reeds.  We could have stayed longer but it was hard for us to stand for long periods.  We saw lots of dinosaur bones at the Vernal, Utah dinosaur museum .  It was truly amazing what the area looked like at the time they roamed.  It was possibly a jungle like land with large animals, mammals, birds and fish.

We came back home by way of Orem, Utah.  We stayed and visited with my daughter Kellie and her family ( Mike, Craig and Matthew).  All in all, it was such a good vacation but as always goes it was good to be back home.

Optimism?

Well, the election is over and there is nothing I can do about it.  I was sure fooled by all the polls.  Most people that I had talked to were definitely going to vote for Gov. Mitt Romney and  Paul Ryan, but I live in Utah so what should I expect.  I can't get over it.  I would have thought that people would want a better economy and more jobs but I was wrong.  Pres. Obama was re-elected because  millions of people want to stay on food-stamp, welfare and all the goodies.    Oh we'll, good old America  isn't what she used to be and I don't think she ever will be again.  That is sad because I would love my grandchildren to grown up in the  same America that I did.

My Life

It seems like the last three years have been pretty tough.  I have so many blessings but occasionally I need to talk about the stuff that bums me out!  A few months ago I found another lump in my right breast.  I thought it was part of my rib cage, but I kept checking.  When I could get my fingers to feel around it and move it, I knew what it was.  Within a few weeks I had the lumpectomy.  All the reconstruction that I had done the last time I had cancer, I also had removed along with my other breast.  Three times in the same spot is too much for coincidence.  On December 30, 2011, I started chemotherapy.  I'm going to have my second chemo. treatment January 20th.  I haven't been sick or anything.  I did start loosing my hair last week so the day before yesterday I asked my youngest daughter Hannah if she would go ahead and shave my hair off.  At first she started to cry and I felt so badly for her, but I hugged her and told her it would be alright...then my husband Ed who was standing next to me put his hand through my hair and showed Hannah.  They were both surprised at how much hair came out without pulling.  Well, she did get her shears out and buzzed my head.  There was about 1/2 to 3/4 inch left.  It is mostly grey with some brown spots.  It doesn't look too bad.  Anyway it's OK with me and Ed which is all that matters.  This morning when I woke up there was a batch of small white hairs on my pillow.  Maybe I'll have her cut the rest off.  I have several scarves (really pretty ones) that I could use but tomorrow for church I plan on going without a hat or scarf.  I'm sure it won't be any worse or more scary as the first time I went back to church.

                                     Oh, by the way on January 12, 2012, this little sweet spirit came into this family.  Her mother Trielle  and her father Eli are both very happy she is here.   5 # 2oz. what a tiny little bundle of joy.                                 

Gia Dawn Whipple

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Thank You Family and Friends

     What a powerful and an overwhelming feeling to be baptised again.  I say that I was raised in the Church but really I was almost 10 before I went to church routinely.  I was baptised when I was 11 by Carver Bryan.  I lived with Mr. and Mrs. from the time I was almost 10 until I was 12 and 1/2.  During those years I received a good family home and good people to live with.  They had three children;  2 boys older and 1 girl a year younger than me.  Such a loving place, and it was those years that I let my mind and body relax.  No more fear about going home and wondering what I would find.  Enough!!  

     When I was first baptised I knew I was going to become a member of the Church and I should always obey the commandments, but other than that it doesn't seem I thought it was as big a deal then as I now do.  Having almost my whole family there to celebrate with me, and to witness the baptism and conferring of the Holy Ghost is the greatest thing that has ever happened. 

      One humorous thing happened during the baptism.  My oldest son, Doug, who was baptising me said the prayer that priesthood holders do for this and then was trying to lower me under the water but my arms were still above the water, so he took his other hand and pushed me down completely underwater.  When I came up and opened my eyes everyone was kind of chuckling.  He had been teasing me beforehand that he wasn't going to get me completely underwater so he would have to "dunk" me again.
       Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the many blessings that I have.  Thanks to the priesthood and my son-in-law Mike, I just can't say enough about Doug and Mike.  They both were so wonderful, and the whole ceremony was so special.  Another great memory to make me smile!

                                                                                   

                                                                                            



Miracles

     Well, it seems that I am so special that I get a bad case of pneumonia and I am not even aware that I am sick except unable to be aroused and my lungs filling up in a matter of hours.  Way too weird..

It seems that I have someone watching over me.  I'm feeling so totally calm and good inside.  I am getting baptized tomorrow at noon.  I'm so excited.  I've been looking forward to this for a long time.  You know how you sometimes just put something off for awhile and then all of a sudden it's years later.  I'm not sure what it was that made me want to read the scriptures, but once I started I was hooked.  I read everything in the Ensigns.  I had a whole different perspective of my church and the things that I read made so much sense.  I grew up in the church and all my friends belonged, but I guess I needed more maturity because the Book of Mormon isn't just words but now reading is a story about ancestors and their struggles.

My family will all be there.  My oldest son will baptize me and my son-in-law will confirm me.  It really is extra special for me.  That really makes me smile.

Many Blessings

     Today I had a very good day.  My son Josh came over to visit.  He is such a sweetheart.  Everyone seems to have their own troubles at times, but when it's any of my children, well I wish that I could take it upon myself.  I hate to see any one of them hurting.  I also had two sisters from Church come by for a minute.

     Last Thursday I had both breasts removed.  I had a recurrence of breast cancer.  Each day has been just a little bit better.  Yesterday I had the tubes taken out and that was so great not having them hanging around, ha ha ha.I am really so blessed.  Many people reached out to help with food, encouragement and blessings.  

     My daughter Kellie is down from up north and I can't wait to see her.  She brought my granddaughter Lauren, my three great-grandchildren, Triton, Bronze and Milana.  I'm going to put Kellie to work helping me plant tulip bulbs for next spring.  Well,  it's getting to be close to my bedtime.  

Thankful

     I am today thankful in a way that I haven't been before.  As I take the time to look outside of myself their are many that are in real need.  I have so much.  A wonderful family and the love I feel for all of them overwhelms me at times.  Home is more than just a house no matter how fancy.  Home has a feeling about it that is comforting.  I have a husband that is so good to me that I keep wondering how to return the thoughtfulness.  My children are the best in the whole world.  Each one of them has a special way about them that is so special.  They all have a heart big as "Montana".  Then there is the grandchildren....God gave to me such a gift.  I am trying to be worthy of them.

     I recently heard about a friend who is in need of prayer.  This lady has always been so open and caring to me.  Just one of the sweetest people that I have ever known.  My prayers are with her and her family.  I pray they will be comforted knowing God loves them.